DIY PUPPET CRAFTS

Learn how to make this fun and simple marionette puppet, inspired by our newest show, Galapagos George! The show follows George, the last living giant Galapagos tortoise, and his life on the beautiful islands he calls home. Who will your turtle be?

Instructions:

1. Paint the entire underside of a paper plate light brown. This will be the shell.

2. Then, paint dark brown patches to make it look more like a turtle's shell.

3. Outline one foot on green card-stock and cut it out. Trace three more feet, and a head. Also trace a tail if you wish.

4. After you've cut out the feet, head, and tail, punch a hole at the base of each. Then punch holes in the corresponding sections of the shell where you want these to attach.

5. Using brass fasteners, attach the feet, head, and tail to the shell of your turtle. Stick googly eyes on the turtle's head so they can see! You can stop here, but if you want to make your turtle come to life as a marionette, keep reading!

6. Put craft/tacky glue on either end of a popsicle stick. Attach two more popsicle sticks to this one, making a capital I shape. This will be your marionette control.

7. Using a pushpin or other sharp object, carefully poke a hole in each of the turtle's four feet (have an adult do this!). Cut four pieces of thread to equal length. Thread a piece of string through the hole, make a knot on the underside to keep the thread from slipping back through the hole, and tape the thread down to make it secure.

8. Tape the other ends of the string to the ends of the marionette control.

9. Now you can make your turtle, walk, fly, swim, and maybe even dance! What adventures will you go on together?